March 5, 2018: Get to know NC House District 1

We'll focus on one of our selected districts each day this week, introducing the candidates who have filed and providing some background info about the area. Stamp NC Blue does not endorse candidates.

Updated May 9, 2018: Goodwin wins the Republican primary to run in November.

Let's go to the beach, the northern Outer Banks! House District (HD) 1 is tucked in the northeast corner of the state and includes Elizabeth City, Corolla, Edenton, Columbia, and the areas around Kill Devil Hills and Virginia Beach. It's one of those oddly-shaped districts that has a chunk left out in the middle and hugs different parts of Currituck Sound. Some of it is relatively sparsely populated; about 83,500 people live here. It's ~75% white, 19% African American, and 3% Hispanic. About 56% of adults >25 have a high school diploma, ~28% have a higher degree (lower than the state average). Median household income is about average compared to the state, $49.7K. Unemployment is 6.5%, close to the state average. Farming is a more common occupation here than in NC as a whole. According to one candidate (Hunter), the district has lost ~40% of its population in the last decade, and younger people especially are leaving (unverified). Voters have supported the incumbent Republican since 2012; he's running for the NC Senate in 2018, so it's an open House race. Learn more about HD-1 here and more about its political background here.

Ron Wesson is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. He lives in Windsor and is serving his second term as a Bertie County Commissioner. He identifies the need for stronger representation of HD-1 in Raleigh, with a focus on jobs and small businesses, education and financing of school construction, the expansion of broadband, and better addressing mental health needs and the opioid crisis. Campaign website, Facebook page.

Two Republicans ran in the May 8 primary: Candace "CV" Hunter and Ed Goodwin. Mr Goodwin won with 55% of the votes.

Hunter is a self-described conservative, pro-business and pro-school choice. She worked as a radio and TV broadcaster. Her major issues include historic preservation, jobs and the economy, education, and infrastructure. She's a small business owner with deep family roots in Camden County. Campaign website, Facebook page.

Goodwin served in the Air Force for four years as a young man and has served on several boards and commissions in Chowan County, including the Board of Commissioners. The Issues page of his website is blank as of May 9. He lives in Edenton. Campaign website, Facebook page.

Enjoy a few photos of this coastal area. Tomorrow, we'll travel west to Wake County to learn about HD-35, join us!